Home Heroes: Follow the leaders with Gillingham, Sheff Utd and Tranmere

This Saturday’s League One and League Two Home Heroes predictions are all about the top of the table, with wins for Gillingham, Sheffield United and Tranmere Rovers over Aldershot Town, Oldham Athletic and Yeovil Town respectively looking pretty likely given their current league standings.

Earlier this week, I became lost in a hazy mix of champagne and high-quality matt paints after landing a winner in the prestigious Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

Admittedly, Torquay’s match with Yeovil was postponed due to the waterlogged Plainmoor pitch, striking it off my coupon and denying me a potential 10/1 triumph, but the victories for Brentford and Southend were good enough for a 3/1 double.

That midweek bender did leave me with something of a headache though, partly due to the paint fumes, but mainly from the level of expectation weighing on my shoulders to produce another winning treble this weekend.

With that in mind, I have played it safe with three wins for some of the country’s most in-form sides in Gillingham, Sheff Utd and Tranmere – picks which may be familiar to regular readers of this column.

Backing all three as part of a treble is available at odds of just over 3/1, which makes winnings of £87.12 for anyone using the free £20 bet that is available to those registering with bwin.

Let’s get started!

Gillingham to beat Aldershot @ 3/5

Dean Holdsworth has seen many a dark day in his footballing career, from that miss for Bolton in the 2000 FA Cup semi-final to his affair with Page 3 ‘model’ Lindsay Dawn McKenzie during his Wimbledon heyday.

Yet these are likely to pale in comparison with his current form at Aldershot, with the team on a run of five consecutive defeats in League Two. And who is the worst team to be facing while on such a nightmare run? Why yes, the current leaders Gillingham.

The Gills may have drawn a blank last time out in the league away at Oxford but they remain the form team in their division, with just a single defeat recorded in their opening 11 fixtures.

Martin Allen’s team have also enjoyed solid goalscoring form at home so far this campaign, with an average of two goals a game at the Priestfield Stadium. Their fans will have fond memories of facing Aldershot too, with Gillingham unbeaten in their last six encounters with the Shots, winning home and away last term.

I predict Mad Dog’s men to savage Aldershot with a home win at 3/5.

Sheffield United to beat Oldham Athletic @ 13/20

The Blades are beginning to develop something of a steel-like grip (sorry) on the upper echelons of League One, with just a couple of points separating them from second-placed Stevenage.

Still unbeaten this term, Sheffield United have put together a decent run of victories too, with wins in three of their last four games. The goals have flowed pretty steadily, with Danny Wilson’s side scoring in ten of their 11 league fixtures.

Taking on Oldham at Bramall Lane could see these records extended, with Athletic failing to impress on their travels in recent times. Oldham have won just two of their last ten away games in all competitions since the back-end of last season and head into this encounter with two defeats from their last three on the road.

Having backed Sheffield United twice in the last few weeks and having seen them deliver on both occasions, I am confident of a home win here at 13/20.

Tranmere to beat Yeovil @ 13/20

Like Gillingham before, Tranmere Rovers are the form team in their division, with Ronnie Moore’s team leading the way in League One and unbeaten so far this term.

Much of this success has been built on their great home form, with the Wirral-based club winning four and drawing one of their five league fixtures at Prenton Park this term.

The Lilywhites head into this game on the back of five wins from their last six in the league, with 15 goals to their name during that time. Moore’s men have an impressive goalscoring record at home too, with 13 netted in their last five matches.

Meanwhile, Gary Johnson’s Yeovil have lost six of their last seven in League One, after making an initially bright start. Recent away form has been particularly woeful, with the west country club on a run of three straight defeats, shipping eight goals in the process.

This has home win written all over it and should hopefully complete another triumphant Home Heroes treble.

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